La Maison Du Whisky MHOBA Rum Flag Series (Collection Foundations) 2019

This Mhoba comes from South Africa, made from fresh pressed sugar cane juice and bottled by La Maison du Whisky in its Flag Series Foundations collection. Distilled in 2019 and aged four years, this single cask at cask strength 60.3% showcases the distillery's funky, ester driven character with an added wine cask dimension, certified unsweetened and pitched at drinkers who enjoy bold cane spirit.

In the Mhoba house style the spirit is distilled for maximum aromatic weight, then aged in ex bourbon wood here touched by a wine influence. It opens with funky esters and grilled pineapple, overripe banana and caramelised toffee, with light wood and a savoury, fruity depth and a fresh, spicy finish. The varnish edged funk that links Mhoba to heavy Jamaican rum is well integrated despite the strength. Intense yet balanced, this is a rum for experienced palates who appreciate high ester cane spirit and reward it with a slow, diluted sip.